Cam Newton flagged, not ejected for bumping ref

Cam Newton somehow avoided ejection Sunday when he angrily bumped referee Jerome Boger during Carolina's game against Oakland. After taking a hit on a 2nd-and-11 pass, Newton leapt to his feet and aggressively yelled at Boger, who did flag the Panthers' QB for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Earlier in the game, Newton appeared to kick an Oakland defender in the face following a take-down -- another Raiders player, Tommie Kelly, was hit with a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness on the play.

Newton does figure to hear from the league this week, likely at least in the form of a fine if not a Week 17 suspension.

Afterward, Newton said he apologized to Boger, and got caught up in the heat of the moment. As for the kick, Newton said that it wasn't intentional, that he was just getting up, but upon seeing the replay he could understand why it was construed that way.

The Panthers did win the game, 17-6, their third straight victory and fourth in five weeks. Newton threw for 170 yards and a touchdown, plus ran for 60 yards and another score.